Let Us Work Together to Protect Our Common Home

May 31, 2018

Religious and scientific leaders in Massachusetts, led by Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley, joined forces last week to press the state to increase its actions on climate change to “protect our communities from the catastrophic impacts” of a warming planet.

Stating they were “motivated by the climate crisis,” the two contingents vowed to urge all sectors of civic life to take steps to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions, the primary driver of climate change, and for the state’s elected representatives “to address the climate crisis with the boldness and urgency in requires with substantive and immediate action.”

“Climate change is an ecological and moral emergency that impacts all others aspects of our shared lives and requires us to work together to protect our common home,” the declaration said.

The scientists and religious leaders wrote, “We are called to be a beacon to the nation and the world. There is still time to take action, and that time is now.”

The appeal drew support from more than 100 scientists and representatives from the Jewish and Muslim faiths, as well as, numerous Protestant Christian denominations. In addition to O’Malley, Catholic signers included Bishop Robert McManus, of Worcester, MA, Fr. Michael McGarry, director of Boston’s Paulist Center, and Christina Leano and Fran Ludwig of the Global Catholic Climate Movement.

The statement borrowed some language from Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment and human ecology, Laudato Si on care for our common home. ~ National Catholic Reporter